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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.1916; 1,215,292. 2 Patented Feb.6,1917.

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J. J. McKAY.

' CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9,1916.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

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J. J. McKAY.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.191s.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

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JAME S JOI-INATHAN MCKAY, DOSSVILLE, MISSISSTPII.

CRATE.

Specification :of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

Application filed met, 1916. Serial No. 102,758.

To all whom it may camera;

Be it known that I, JAMES JOHNA-THAN MoKAY, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Dossyille, in the county of Leake and State of Mississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in knock-down crates or coops. I

The primary object of the invention is to produce a coop or crate of a simple, cheap, strong and effective construction which may be easily and quickly set up and locked in such set up condition or which may be easily folded or collapsed and likewise locked in such folded or collapsed condition.

A further object of the invention is to produce a crate of this class which may be constructed wholly of metal, if desired, and wherein the parts are braced and-the said braces effect in providing, looking or co engaging elements between the sections of the coop and also wherein the locking means for the coop or door sections employed in securing these sections when the crate'is set up may be likewise employed in securing both the top and side sections locked when the crate is collapsed.

With the above and other objects in view the improvement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate or coop constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 is an approximately central vertical longitudinal sectional view through the same,

' Fig. 8 is a transverse section'al view approximately on the line-3.3' of Flg. 2,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the crate or coop in itsfolde'd or collapsed condition, and c Fig. 5- is a bottom plan view of the same.

The improvement is adapted for use as a container for various classes of merchandise either fruit, vegetables or fowls and may be constructed of any desired materiah In the showing of the drawln'gs the construction of the coop includes a flat substantially rectangular base 1 which, in the showing of said drawings, is construGted of wood, but the same if desired may compriseaa metal plate. The base 1 may have-secured thereto or maybe integrally formed with members frame and this frame may be formed from asingle rod bent to the said rectangular shape, as-l-ndlcated'by the numerals 4:4:. The lower memberof each of the end frames .4 is: received in the butts 2 of the base so that the verticalmembers of the frame, when the crate is in its set up posltio-n are disposed to contact with the ends of the base 1, such contact effecting in sustaining the said ends at .-a right angletothe base, and the said ends are also adapted'to be'swung beneath the base 1 when the device is in its folded or collapsed'condition- The'ends ,4 are reinforced ;by angularly disposed rod members 55'which-are arrangedat opposite angles so that the ends of the said reinforcing rods may project beyond the vertical members of the ends 4:, providing ,what I will term lugs 6, the opposite ends of the said reinforcing rods extending over the upper members of the end frames providing these members of the frames with vertically disposed lugs 7. The end frames have secured thereto a suitdrawings, is preferably in the nature of a wire'mesh.- 1

The-sides for the device preferably comprise an upper and alower spaced rod, in-

dicated for distinct-ion; by the characters 8 and 9" respectively, the lower rod 9 of each of the side frames-being received in the butts 3 ofthe base 1, and the ends of the said rods 8 and 9 have-hingedly' connected thereto plates 10. Each of the plates-has its outer ,edgeformed with an inwardly disposed angular extension or flange 11, and each of the said plates 10 is provided" with a slot or opening 12 to receive the lugs 6 uponthe end frames when the side frames are swung against the said end frames, while the flanges of the side frames contact with the outer surfaces of the vertical corner members of the-end frames when the device 1s n llJSQSQlZ able covering which, as .illustrated. in the up condition. The side frames are provided with a covering, such as wire mesh, as illustrated in the drawings- The top for the device comprises two sections each including endplates 13 which are hingedly connected to the upper rods 8 of the side frames, while longitudinally disposed plates 14 connect the ends of the said plates 18. The end plates 13 have their outer edges flanged, as at 15, and one of the top sections is adapted to overlap the other at the edges of the sections, while the flanges 15 are disposed outwardly but if necessary in contact with the upper horizontal members of the frames of the ends. The plates 13 are each provided with a slot or opening 16 to receive the vertically disposed lugs 7 upon the end frames. The top sections are provided with a covering of wire mesh, similar to the covering for the sides and ends, and one of the longitudinal plates 14; for each of the top sections at a suitable distance from the end of the said section is provided with upstanding slotted lugs 17 which are adapted to pass through apertures 18 in the plate 14; of the other or overlapping top sec tion. The said overlapping section has arranged upon its plate 141, adjacent the ends of the said section, longitudinally disposed spring pressed locking members 19, and these members are adapted to be forced by their respective springs through the slots in the lugs 17 thus effecting in locking the top sections together. By reference to the drawings it will be noted that the locking means 19 comprise essentially a rod and each of said rods has its outer end substantially U or hook-shaped, as indicated by the numerals 20, and the flange 15 of the underlying section of the top has its lower edge slotted, as at 21, whereby the hook-shaped ends of the said locking means may be received therein as well as to underlie the upper or horizontal members of the end frames and thus it will be noted that the device will be eflectively sustained locked when in its set-up condition.

By reference to the drawings it will be noted that the ends of thebase 1 at a suitable distance from one of the corners thereof is provided with a longitudinally arranged slotor channel 22, and when the end members are swung under the base (and locked thereto in a manner which will presently be described), and the respective hinged side and top sections are swung over the base and one over the other, the flanges of the underlying side and top section will contact with the edges of the base and the overlapping side and top section will have its flanges overlapping the flanges of the underlying section, whilethe locks will be operated to permit of their hook-shaped ends being received in thesaid slot-s or channels 22, thus effectively locking the sides and top sections to the base when the device is in its folded or collapsed condition.

To secure the end sections looked upon the base, when the device is collapsed, I arrange upon the underface of the said base, an approximately centrally disposed longitudinally extending spring bolt 28 that is provided with a pair of spaced substantially U-shaped hooks Qt-Qd, and one of these hooks is adapted to engage each with one of the horizontal or upper members of the re spective end frames. The bolt 24: may be, and preferably is provided with an operating knob 25, and from the above when taken in connection with the drawings, it is thought that the simplicity, strength and durability of the construction, as well as the method of operating the same will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further detailed description. One of the top members preferably is provided with the usual door whereby the fowls may be ad mitted to or removed singly from the coop.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A coop or crate including a substantially rectangular base, sides and ends hingedly secured to the base, said ends having angular brace members projecting beyond the upper and outer members thereof to provide lugs, the side members being slotted to receive the longitudinal lugs, a top comprising two sections one hingedly secured to each of the sides, and one of the sections adapted to have its end overlap the other section, said top sections having slots to receive the vertical lugs in the ends, spring pressed locking means upon the overlapping section of the top co-engaging with the undersection of the said top, and said locking means including hook members to engage with the ends of the device.

2. A. coop comprising a flat base, side and end members hingedly connected with the base and arranged to permit of the ends folding under the base and the sides over the base, interengaging elements between the ends and sides, a top comprising two sections, one of which being hingedly secured to each of the sides, interengaging means between the ends and the said top sections, locking means for the top sections, and said locking means co-engaging with the end sections and adapted to also engage with the base when the sides and top sections are swung over the base and over each other, and means upon the base for locking the ends thereto when the said ends are swung under the base.

3. A collapsible crate or coop including a base, having butts at.'the sides and ends thereof and projecting beyond the said sides and lends, end members each including a and lower rods and the lower rods passing through the end butts of the base, angular reinforcing rods for the ends which project beyond the corner members and the upper members of the said ends to provide lugs, the side members comprising upper and lower parallel rods and plates hingedly secured to the ends thereof and the lower rods passing through butts at the sides of the base, said connecting plates being slotted to receive the lugs at the corner members of the ends when the sides are swung against the ends, said connecting plates having their outer edges flanged inwardly, a top comprising two sections each including end plates which are hin'gedly connected with the up per rods of the sides, said end plates having outer flanges and being provided with slots to receive the lugs upon the upper members of the sides, longitudinal plates connecting the end members of the top, and one of said longitudinal plates adapted to overlie the other, the underlying plate having slotted lugs, spring pressed locking means upon the upper plates for engaging in the slotted lugs of the underplates, each of the said locking means including a rod member, having its outer end hooked and the said hooks adapted to engage with the flanges of the said top sections and to engage with the upper member of the end members, when the device is set up, the frames for the sides and topshaving a covering of metal netting, a spring pressed bolt upon the underface of the base having oppositely disposed hooks which are adapted to engage with the end members when the device is collapsed and the said end members are swung under the base, and the hook members of the first mentioned blocks are adapted to be received in openings in the ends of the base when the side and end sections are swung over the base and over each other when the device is in its collapsed condition.

In testimony whereof I alIiX my signature.

JAME S- JOHNATHAN MoKAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

